Cavs Questions: Watson's Game-Day Test, Hezonja Buzz and New…

By the Cavaliers Nightly Desk · Wednesday, October 7

The preseason opener against Boston arrives right as Peyton Watson's estimated return date hits, with no confirmation yet that he plays. Four September additions and a Hezonja role rumor are still waiting on real answers.

Cavaliers Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Does Peyton Watson actually play against the Celtics?

Watson has been day-to-day with a hamstring injury since Sept. 25, and his estimated return date lines up with the Oct. 8 opener against Boston. Nothing beyond day-to-day has been confirmed, and Cleveland hasn't put a game status on him yet. Until that report lands before tip-off, call it a date to watch, not a lock.

What's left on the preseason schedule before it counts?

Cleveland plays Boston on Oct. 8, then Orlando on Oct. 11 (ESPN) and again at Orlando on Oct. 13 (Peacock), before the regular-season opener Oct. 22 at Philadelphia on ESPN. Three tune-ups, three different rotation looks, before Kenny Atkinson has to make decisions that count. That's the full test before games start to matter.

Is Hezonja really in line for a bigger role?

King James Gospel reported Oct. 6 that Hezonja may have a bigger role than expected, the same day Cavs.com previewed him as ready for his second NBA stint. Nothing from the team has confirmed an expanded role. Treat it as a camp story to track, not a rotation decision.

What do the four new additions actually bring?

Richmond, Austin, Agee and Jones joined Sept. 23 under new GM Brandon Weems, and two weeks later there's still no word on roles or contract terms for any of them. Richmond's the only one with NBA minutes, three games last season at 22.3 minutes and 8.3 points. The other three are complete unknowns heading into camp.

How good are the Celtics Cleveland is about to see?

Boston went 56-26 last season with a 111.7 defensive rating and an 8.3 net rating, and still looked plenty good missing Tatum for 16 games. Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Paul George carried the scoring in his absence; Pritchard played all 79 games and averaged 17 points. Preseason or not, this is a measuring-stick opponent.

The verdictNothing here is confirmed: not Watson's return, not Hezonja's role, not what Cleveland actually got in its four September additions. The opener against Boston is the first real chance to see any of it answered.

When do the Cavaliers open the regular season?

Oct. 22 on the road against the 76ers, airing on ESPN.

Is Peyton Watson playing in the preseason opener against Boston?

He's day-to-day with a hamstring injury and his estimated return date matches the Oct. 8 game, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

By the Cavaliers Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.